Whole Plant Design Integration Manager

United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority; Abingdon; In loco; GBP 100.000 - 140.000; Tempo pieno

Descrizione del lavoro

United Kingdom Atomic Energy Authority seeks an experienced Whole Plant Design Integration Manager to lead the convergence of designs across multiple Integrated Programme Teams into a coherent, operable and licensable power plant. The role champions whole‑plant thinking, balancing performance, safety, cost and schedule to deliver a deliverable, safe and efficient facility.

You will provide technical leadership, drive cross‑disciplinary integration, and guide decision‑making with senior

Competenze

• Experience delivering and integrating complex engineering systems within major capital projects.
• Experience leading whole‑plant design integration and multidisciplinary engineering.
• Stakeholder engagement across organisational boundaries.
• Systems thinking across the full lifecycle from requirements to commissioning.
• Experience with safety cases, licensing or regulatory engagement is advantageous.

Mansioni

• Lead Whole Plant Design Integration and define plant integration strategy.
• Drive technical integration, design coherence, and alignment with governance.
• Facilitate evidence‑based decision‑making and chair technical forums.
• Identify and manage plant‑level risks, assumptions and technical debt.
• Safeguard technical integrity through design changes and baselines.

Conoscenze

Systems engineering

Integration

Stakeholder engagement

Leadership

Formazione

Engineering degree

Chartered Engineer

Strumenti

Engineering governance tools

Descrizione del lavoro

Overview of Responsibilities

Are you an experienced engineering leader with a passion for systems thinking, technical integration, and solving complex engineering challenges? We are seeking a Whole Plant Design Integration Manager to play a critical role in delivering one of the world’s most ambitious fusion energy programmes. In this highly influential position, you will ensure that designs developed across multiple Integrated Programme Teams (IPTs) combine into a coherent, operable, maintainable and licensable power plant. Acting as the champion for whole-plant thinking, you will ensure that engineering decisions are made in the best interests of the overall programme, balancing performance, safety, cost, schedule and operational requirements. This is a unique opportunity to help shape the future of clean energy while working at the forefront of engineering innovation.

The Role

As the Whole Plant Design Integration Manager, you will provide technical leadership across the programme, driving integration, alignment and decision‑making to ensure a viable and deliverable plant design. You will lead a specialist team while collaborating with senior engineering stakeholders across multiple disciplines, influencing complex technical decisions and ensuring integrated solutions are achieved.

Responsibilities

• Lead Whole Plant Design Integration
  Define and maintain the overall plant integration strategy.
  Establish plant-wide design principles and integration objectives.
  Ensure engineering activities align with programme requirements and governance.
  Provide independent technical recommendations to support key design decisions.
• Drive Technical Integration and Design Coherence
  Resolve cross‑disciplinary engineering challenges and competing design solutions.
  Develop and improve integration processes, standards and working practices.
  Own plant‑level spatial integration, including layout, clash management and infrastructure interfaces.
  Ensure technical baselines remain consistent, traceable and aligned.
• Facilitate Integrated Decision‑Making
  Chair technical forums and lead evidence‑based decision‑making.
  Balance competing priorities across engineering, operations, safety and programme delivery.
  Build consensus across teams and provide clear recommendations where trade‑offs are required.
  Escalate key decisions and risks with clarity and confidence.
• Manage Plant‑Level Risks and Emerging Challenges
  Identify integration risks, technical uncertainties and system interactions.
  Assess emergent behaviours arising from complex plant interfaces.
  Ensure assumptions, dependencies and technical debt are effectively managed.
  Support informed decision‑making before major design commitments are made.
• Safeguard Technical Integrity Through Change
  Evaluate the whole‑plant impact of design and configuration changes.
  Maintain alignment between approved baselines and evolving designs.
  Protect design intent while supporting programme evolution and innovation.

About You

We’re looking for a strategic engineering leader with the ability to see the bigger picture while navigating complex technical detail. You will bring:

• Significant experience leading complex, multidisciplinary engineering programmes.
• Strong systems engineering and integration expertise.
• A broad understanding of engineering disciplines, technologies and large‑scale infrastructure projects.
• Exceptional analytical and problem‑solving skills.
• Experience managing technical interfaces, trade‑offs and integration risks.
• The confidence to challenge constructively and influence senior stakeholders.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and relationship‑building skills.
• Sound engineering judgement and a commitment to technical excellence.

Qualifications

Essential: Degree in engineering, physics or related discipline (or equivalent experience) and Chartered Engineer status (or equivalent). Experience delivering and integrating complex engineering systems within major capital projects, high‑hazard or highly regulated environments. (e.g. Fusion, Nuclear, Aerospace, Defence etc.) Demonstrable experience of whole‑plant design integration, multidisciplinary engineering and management of complex technical interfaces, including consideration of layout, operability, maintainability, constructability and commissioning. Proven ability to lead technical decision‑making, manage engineering risks and opportunities, and apply systems‑thinking across the full engineering lifecycle from requirements through to verification, validation and commissioning. Experience operating within engineering governance and assurance frameworks, with strong stakeholder engagement, influencing and communication skills across organisational boundaries. Beneficial: Design Authority experience. Systems engineering methodologies and tools. Safety case, licensing or regulatory engagement. Remote maintenance, asset management or lifecycle engineering experience. Development of engineering standards, policies or integration frameworks. Track record of innovation and collaboration in complex engineering programmes. Professional network within fusion, nuclear or related high‑integrity engineering sectors.

Additional Information

We welcome applications from under‑represented groups, particularly women in STEM and individuals from British black and ethnic minority backgrounds, and individuals with disabilities. Our Executive team, supported by our ‘Equality, Diversity and Inclusion’ (EDI) Partner and Inclusion Ambassadors, actively promotes EDI and takes steps to increase diversity within our organisation. We reinforce best practices in recruitment and selection and evaluate approaches to remove barriers to success. UKFE is committed to being accessible. Please email [e-mail] if you have any questions or require help or adjustments to compete on a fair basis, for example, changes to the way we interview or share information. This role requires employees to complete an online Baseline Personnel Security Standard (BPSS), including the Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks for criminal convictions. Whilst not required at this time, there is a possibility of an SC Clearance being required in the future. If a candidate already holds an SC clearance, that clearance can be transferred to UKFE.

As we work towards our mission and goals, guided by our principles, STEP has six behaviours that are intended to capture the spirit of how we work: We champion safety We all matter We act as one We embrace change We are pioneering We deliver.

Employment Details

Program: UKFE - Design Authority
Department:
Site Location:
Type of Employment: Full‑time
Reference Number: REF4668B

Salary

Competitive + Excellent Benefits including Outstanding Pension

Criminal Record Checks

For applicants applying from outside the United Kingdom or those who have spent time outside the UK in the last five years, please visit the following link for information on criminal records checks: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/criminal-records-checks-for-overseas-applicants. If your country of residence or previous residence is not listed on the website or if the UK Government does not have information on obtaining a criminal records check from that state, we regret to inform you that we cannot process your application.